Estimating deterioration rate of a bridge using changes in natural frequencies

Abstract

Significant increased demand in heavy traffic loads towards heavy and long vehicles on roads could lead to an increase rate of bridge structural deterioration. This paper presents a methodological framework which can be utilized to estimate deterioration rate of a bridge using accelerometer sensor measurements. Deterioration rate is quantified using changes in natural frequencies of the bridge because it correlates with the reduction in structural capacity of a bridge. Using a case study bridge in Aceh Indonesia, the results of study show that dynamic monitoring framework using accelerometer sensor can be utilized to estimate deterioration rate of a bridge and ultimately it can be further used in the prediction of bridge residual life.